Your guide to men's personal grooming & style

SS14

Nothing is more on-trend this season than sneakers. If you think there is only one kind of sneakers, think again.

A myriad of options is made available for the guys this spring/summer. This footwear type can work for dressier occasions, and it is all about choosing the right material.

For a snazzier take, go for leather sneakers. A good choice would be this pair from the house of Balenciaga. Constructed in Italy, this pair exudes luxury quietly but surely. The supple leather comes in a beautiful hue of grey, a neutral tone which goes well with most other colours.

For a more laid back look, pair it with a pair of distressed light blue denim jeans, and a graphic print tee. Top off the look with a simple monotone baseball cap, accessorise with a couple of leather bracelets, and you’re good to go. From the movies to a casual dinner date, followed by some drinks and pool down at your favourite bar.

To dress it up a little, we recommend a pair of jeans in a similar shade of grey, a crisp white tee, and a sharp dark blue blazer, or red for the more adventurous satorialists amongst us. Finish off the look with a metal bracelet watch to further elevate the dressiness of this look.

Never has there been a time like now when the sweatpant is celebrated, and is an approved sartorial choice outside of your house (or the gym).

This spring, sportswear moves out of a functional clothing category to that of mainstream fashion. While you may not be able to tell rugby from football, that’s not going to be a deciding factor in whether you can pull off the sportswear trend this season.

To pull through this season in style, every guy should have a pair of basic black (or grey) sweatpants, such as the black one from Zara that’s featured here. And to pull off the sweatpants look, the easiest way is to aim for a monochromatic ensemble. Pair your sweatpants with a simple solid white/grey/black shirt or t-shirt. Finish off the look with a pair of sneakers. This is where you monochrome-phobes can inject some colour to your overall outfit. If you need some suggestions for sneakers, here is one great choice this spring.

Remember the “less is more” rule so if you have colourful kicks, then stay away from too many accessories. Limit it to a nice watch with a metal bracelet or a simple bracelet.

Finally, while the sportswear trend is all the rage now, the trick is not to look like you just stepped out from the gym or finished a game of basketball. Juxtapose your look with something totally the opposite of sportswear, such as a nice black jacket over a t-shirt, sweatpants and sneaker look. This not only adds some interesting dimension to your look, it will also elevate the trend level of your overall look.